Letter-file



(No Model.)

GIT. LOMB. LETTER FILE.

No. 470,062. Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CARL FERDINAND IJOMB, OF ROCHESTER, NElV YORK.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,062, dated March 1, 1892. Application filed January 2, 1892. Serial No. 416,828. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL FERDINAND LOMB, of Rochester, county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Letter-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to that class of letter-files generally known in the art as Shannon files, and which consists of two upright arches, each composed of separable parts, in order that the perforated letters or cheapness, the ease with which the parts may be manipulated, and their extreme rigidity when erected in operative position. The construction herein represented is intended more particularly for use in what are known as transfer or storage files, on which the letters are permanently. filed; but it is also adapted for use in the ordinary files to which letters are applied and from which they are removed during the course of daily correspondence.

In the drawings I have represented only the filing-arches, as the remainder of the file may be constructed in any ordinary or suitable manner.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in operative position as it appears when the sheets are filed thereon. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the parts are separated or the arches opened to permit the application and removal of the sheets. Fig.

3 is a perspective view showing the first movement or action in preparing to fold the file. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the file in its folded condition.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a base plate or support, which may be of any appropriate form and construction, but which,

.the plate. 1

D represents a U-shaped member, preferably made of tubular form, its middle portion forming in effect a rock-shaft, being extended permanently through the sleeves C from the front of the base-plate, while its two ends are bent upward at a right angle to the remaining portion, forming parallel filing-arms d. In theirreceivingor operative position these arms stand vertically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so thattheperforatedletter-sheetsmaybe slipped on and oif.

E E represent two U-shaped wires, having their forward downturned ends adapted to enter the tubular upper ends of the arms or standards 01 and their rear ends carried downward and bent at a right angle, as shown at e, in order that they may be sprung into the sockets B of the base-plate. Near their rear ends the two arms E are connected by a crossplate F, having its end clasped around them, so that they may turn therein.

When the file is in use, the front ends of the arms or arches E are seated in the tubular filing arms or standards D and their rear ends 6 engaged in the sockets B, as plainly shown in Fig. 1,the engagement being maintained by the elasticity of the arms. In this arrangement of the parts they are all maintained rigidly in position and the two arches kept in parallel positions, so that the lettersheets may be transferred to and from the arms (1 to the Wires E, and this to the end that the series of sheets on file may be separated at any desired point and any selected sheet exposed for removal when the wires E are detached. This detachment is effected, as shown in Fig. 2, by springing the feet eout 0f the sockets B and then lifting the Wires bodily.

When the empty file is to be packed or stored, the feet e are simply disengaged from the sockets B and the standards d turned backward and downward flatly upon the baseplate, carrying with them the arch-wires E, after which the arch-wires are turned over sldewlse until they rest flatly upon the base.

During the last-named action the forward bodily around a common axis and then turning one part of each arch around theremainin g part as a center until it lies fiat.

It is to be understood that the bar I although desirable, is not a necessary feature of my file. It is also to be understood that the rear ends of the wiresE may be arranged to interlock with the base in any form and manner the mechanical equivalent of that herein shown, the only essential requirement in this regard being their adaptation for convenient engagement and disengagement.

In order to prevent the cross-bar F from moving on the two arms E, I provide the latter above and below the ends of the cross-bar with stopsf, as plainly shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1; In a letter-file, the combination of a baseplate, theU-shaped memberD, hinged thereto to fold bodily downward, and the arched wires E, detachably engaged at one of their ends with the base-plate and having their opposite ends removably seated and arranged to turn within the arms of the member D, whereby the ends of the arched wires may be disengaged from the base-plate, theU -shaped member turned bodily downward, and the said arched. wires subsequently turned over sidewise.

2. In a letter-file, the base-plate provided with sockets B, in combination with the U- shaped member D, hinged to said plate to turn bodily downward, and the arch wires E, adapted at one end to enter the arms of the member D and at the opposite end to removably engage the sockets B.

3. In a letter-file, the combination, with the base-plate, of the U -shaped member D, hinged thereto to fold downward, the arched wires E, re movably engaged with the base-plate at one of their ends and arranged at their opposite ends to turn on the arms of the memberD as axes, and the bar F, connecting said arched Wires, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of December, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

CARL FERDINAND LOMB.

Witnesses:

A. ,BUEDINGER, ELIZABETH A. WEBER. 

